Five year wait for hip operations at Gauteng hospital causes outcry

The Democratic Alliance and their Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom, are furious after it was revealed that over ten thousand patients are waiting for operations at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

11 736 patients are waiting for various operations, the longest waiting time is five years for hip operations. Bloom went into more detail in a statement on Wednesday.

“This information was disclosed yesterday by Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa in an oral reply to my questions at a sitting of the Gauteng Legislature.She also said that 1824 operations had been cancelled for various reasons at the hospital last year.

I am astounded that so many patients are waiting for operations at this hospital.The number has increased dramatically in the last two years as 4846 patients were waiting for surgery at the hospital in 2015 according to a previous reply to my questions in the Legislature.”

Bloom says part of the problem is the high number of cancelled operations due to machinery breakdowns and staff shortages. He says the surgery backlog should never have been allowed to grow so high.

“Patients suffer when they have to wait so long for surgery. It is inhuman to ask people to wait five years for a hip operation.Special measures should be introduced to cut the surgery waiting lists, including extended operating hours and a partnership with the private health sector.”

This is just the latest in a multitude of issues raised against the Gauteng Health Department this year. From an alarming number of baby deaths to R22 billion in medical negligence claims.

Is there a way back for the province’s health sector?